Homecoming court crowned at Coon Rapids High School

Sprinting past classmates, tossing candy into the crowd and leading enthusiastic cheers, Lindsey Esch opened the Sept. 24 Coon Rapids High School Homecoming coronation ceremony with energetic Coon Rapids Cardinal pomp and circumstance.

After Esch and fellow emcee Jackson Bednar welcomed the capacity crowd to the ceremony, classmates Derek McKeever, Taylor Counts and Kenny Ly each entertained with music and song.

Next up, Homecoming Royalty promenaded on to the royal court and enjoyed the applause and whistling cheers of adoring classmates.

Meanwhile, Esch disappeared into a back room, changing into a formal ball gown and then re-emerging on the arm of classmate Dylan Sagan, the final pair of Homecoming Royalty candidates to take their seats at center court.

Hushed suspense filled the fieldhouse as Esch – still serving as emcee for the ceremony – moved from one Homecoming King candidate to another, holding the king’s crown above each young man before setting it atop Tanner Liubakka’s head.

And then, with the Homecoming Queen’s crown in his hands, Bednar wove between the queen candidates, dramatically pausing at each young lady before placing the crown on Esch’s head.

Homecoming King Tanner Liubakka and Queen Lindsey Esch greeted fellow Cardinals, who received them with a round of enthusiastic cheers and applause.